Method of unscrambling television content on a bandwidth

Abstract

A method and system for micro-cloud computing is described. An application serving node, which is a specifically configured piece of customer premises equipment such as a set-top box, is the server for a micro-cloud network. Various user devices that form part of the micro-cloud network, such as television sets and smart phones, communicate with the application serving node. The application serving node is configured with software that allows various heterogeneous types of data to be obtained and streamed to the user devices in multiple ways. The application serving node performs much of the processing necessary for such content streaming itself and thus represents an edge-based network architecture.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A method of obtaining television content, the method comprising:
 providing a first serving node located at premises of a first plurality of user devices registered to said first serving node, said first serving node comprising a plurality of television tuners; 
 receiving, at said first serving node, a request for a channel from a registered user device of said first plurality of user devices; 
 when any of said plurality of television tuners at said first serving node is receiving said requested channel, storing, at said first serving node, the television content associated with said requested channel in blocks for transmission to said requesting user device; and 
 when said plurality of television tuners at said first serving node are not receiving said requested channel: 
 broadcasting, by said first serving node, a request for said requested channel; 
 receiving, by said first serving node from a second serving node, a transcoded and transrated video stream corresponding to said requested channel, when said first serving node does not have bandwidth to transcode and transrate video stream corresponding to said requested channel; 
 receiving, by said first serving node from the second serving node, a video stream corresponding to said requested channel, and wherein the video stream is not transcoded and not transrated, when said first serving node has bandwidth to transcode and transrate said video stream corresponding to said requested channel, 
 wherein said first serving node transcodes and transrates, for said requesting user device, said video stream corresponding to said requested, 
 wherein the second serving node is closest available serving node receiving said requested channel, and wherein said second serving node is located at premises of a second plurality of user devices registered to said second serving node; 
 providing, by said first serving node to said requesting user device, said transcoded and transrated video stream corresponding to said requested channel. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 providing a module in said first serving node, wherein said module is configured to provide storing and forwarding of a video stream of content received by available tuners of said plurality of television tuners, for viewing, to user devices of said first plurality of user devices, while allowing recording of said content simultaneously. 
 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of television tuners includes an active television tuner for a channel being viewed on one of said first plurality of user devices registered to said first serving node. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , wherein said request, for said requested channel, includes a format for said video stream corresponding to said requested channel. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , wherein said second serving node transcodes and transrates, for said requesting user device, said video stream corresponding to said requested channel, by utilizing a processor and resources associated with said second serving node. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , wherein said second serving node receives said requested channel from a video source. 
     
     
       7. A system for sharing television tuners, the system comprising:
 a first serving node that is located at premises of a first plurality of user devices registered to said first serving node, said first serving node comprising a plurality of television tuners; and a second serving node, 
 wherein said first serving node is configured to: 
 when any of said plurality of television tuners associated with said first serving node [[are His receiving a channel requested by a registered user device of said first plurality of user devices, store television content associated with said requested channel in blocks for transmission to said requesting user device; and 
 when said plurality of television tuners associated with said first serving node are not receiving said requested channel: 
 broadcast a request for said requested channel; 
 receive, from said second serving node, a transcoded and transrated video stream corresponding to said requested channel, when said first serving node does not have bandwidth to transcode and transrate video stream corresponding to said requested channel; 
 receive, from the second serving node, a video stream corresponding to said requested channel, and wherein the video stream is not transcoded and not transrated, when said first serving node has bandwidth to transcode and transrate said video stream corresponding to said requested channel, 
 the video stream corresponding to said requested channel, when said first serving node has bandwidth to transcode and transrate said video stream corresponding to said requested channel, 
 wherein said first serving node transcodes and transrates, for said requesting user device, said video stream corresponding to said requested channel, 
 wherein the second serving node is closest available serving node receiving said requested channel, and wherein said second serving node is located at premises of a second plurality of user devices registered to said second serving node; 
 provide, to said requesting user device, said transcoded and transrated video stream corresponding to said requested channel. 
 
     
     
       8. The system of  claim 7 , wherein said first serving node further comprises a module, wherein said module is configured to store and forward a video stream of content received by available tuners of said plurality of television tuners, for viewing, to user devices of said first plurality of user devices, while allowing recording of said content simultaneously. 
     
     
       9. The system of  claim 7 , wherein said plurality of television tuners includes an active television tuner for a channel being viewed on one of said first plurality of user devices registered to said first serving node. 
     
     
       10. The system of  claim 7 , wherein said request, for said requested channel, includes a format for said video stream corresponding to said requested channel. 
     
     
       11. The system of  claim 7 , wherein said second serving node transcodes and transrates, for said requesting user device, said video stream corresponding to said requested channel, by utilizing a processor and resources associated with said second serving node. 
     
     
       12. The system of  claim 7 , wherein said second serving node receives said requested channel from a video source.